Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, indicted for corruption in a series of cases and vying for the legislative elections in March, demanded immunity from the Israeli parliament on Wednesday. His lawyers announced that they had filed the request with the President of the Parliament.
Benjamin Netanyahu announced in a press conference his intention to make a request for immunity, "in accordance with the law", in order to continue to serve the country. "Netanyahu knows he is guilty," Benny Gantz, the Prime Minister's big rival, immediately reacted to a press conference.
Charged in three different cases
For the former general at the head of the centrist party Kahol Lavan ("Bleu-Blanc"), this request for immunity constitutes an obvious attempt by Benjamin Netanyahu to escape justice. The centrist Kahol Lavan party will do everything in its power to "prevent the Prime Minister's immunity", he said, adding: "In Israel, no one is above the law. "
On November 21, Attorney General Avichaï Mandelblit announced the indictment of Benjamin Netanyahu for "corruption", "embezzlement" and "breach of trust" in three different cases, allegations that the Prime Minister refutes and calls "hunting for witches ". Prosecutor Mandelblit has given him until January 2 to apply for immunity in these cases.
A dissolved parliament
Israeli law states that any minister who is subject to criminal prosecution must resign, but this does not apply to the Prime Minister. Although he can remain in office, Benjamin Netanyahu does not enjoy any immunity from justice, hence the fact that he wishes to request it from the Knesset. This request must first be assessed by a parliamentary committee. However, as Parliament was dissolved for the legislative elections of March 2 - the third in less than a year in Israel, the request of Benjamin Netanyahu will have to wait for the outcome of the next election before being studied.
After the early elections in April and September, neither Benjamin Netanyahu nor Benny Gantz managed to rally 61 deputies, threshold of the parliamentary majority to form a government. President Reuven Rivlin therefore had to entrust this task to Parliament itself, which also failed to do so, precipitating the country into an upcoming election.
Supreme Court investigates case
In December, Benjamin Netanyahu announced he would quit his post as minister - of Agriculture, Diaspora and Health - which he combined with the post of Prime Minister, while remaining head of government. He appointed the ultra-Orthodox Yaakov Litzman to the post of Minister of Health on Sunday.
But lawyers have asked the Supreme Court to rule on the right of Benjamin Netanyahu to receive from the president the mandate to form a government despite the charges against him. A panel of three Supreme Court justices began studying the matter on Tuesday, saying their decision would be made at a later date, which they did not specify.
“I do not imagine for a moment that the Supreme Court of Israel falls into this trap. In a democracy, only the people decide who can lead it and no one else, "the Prime Minister said on Twitter on Tuesday. Despite his struggles with the law, Benjamin Netanyhou, 70, won the primaries on December 26 in the leadership of his party, the Likud, with more than 72% of support in the first ballot. And the first polls with a view to the March 2 election suggest a status quo among Israeli voters, a priori once again between Likud and Kahol Lavan.
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